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w. B. GREENLEE' "ile'd Aug.- 28, 19:54

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March s, 193s.

INVENTOR. /V. 5. Green/ee vPatented Mar. 8, 1938` UNITED STATES PATENT oFrlcE A armrest SIGN .William B.A Greenlee, Denver, Colo. Application August 28, 1934, Serial No. I141,818

13 Claims.

My invention relates to illuminated signs and a method of illuminating same, and more particullarly to signs generally designatedas neon signs.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sign composed of non-connected neon tube units which are collectively illuminated.

Another object of my invention resides in the provision of a sign having interchangeable, nonconnected neon tube units in the form of letters, symbols and the like, to permit variations in its subject as desired.

Still another object of the invention resides in a novel method of transmitting high frequency current to emit impulses which are indirectly applied in simultaneously energizing a plurality of non-connected neon tube units.

Other objects reside in novel combinations and arrangements of parts as will more fully appear in the course of the following description.

Referring now to the drawing in the several views of which like parts have been similarly designated, and in which,

Figure 1 represents a face View of a sign bearing a Word formed by an arrangement of interchangeable tube units,

Figure 2 is a section taken along the line 2 2, Figure 1, and including the electric circuit employed to energize the tube units,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary face view of a modification of the invention,

Figure 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4,

Figure 3, and

Figure 5is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along the line 2-2, Figure 1.

The sign illustrated in Figure 1 comprises a frame 6 of suitable rmaterial and design. A conductive plate 1 is supported in the frame, and may be utilized as the backl of the frame, if desired.

A plate 8 of di-electric material is held in the purpose to-bev hereinafter described.

Neontube units I2 shaped 'to represent characters, letters, symbols or the like are held'upon an exposed face of plate 8 by hooks I4 ofcelluloid or some similar transparent insulating Amaterial having connections I3 with the units. Each tube unit I2 is in disconnected relation with the other tube units'of the sign, to facilitate interchange of 'the various characters. The hook and pocket arrangement permits ready removal and installation during rearrangement of the tube units. When the sign is'tov be used for a rather permanent legend only the necessary holding hooks are furnished and they can, of course, be changed or rearranged Whenever the occasion may arise, by removal of the back plate 1. When the sign is to be used for frequently changed legends, as for a theater, each aperture or pocket I0 is equipped with a holding hook I4 so that the legend can be changed very readily by removal and insertion of the characters in the holding hooks. The connections I3 are flexible to permit this change with a minimum of effort.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the design or legend formed by a series of tube units is subject to change at the will of the user of the sign, and any such changes may be readily effected without removal of the sign from its place of installation.

A protective plate I5 of glass or other transparent material may be placed over the exposed face of the sign, if desired, and lugs I6, or other Thefconductive plate 1 is charged with high frequency current in the following manner, Current from a suitable source l1 is conducted through a transformer I8 to a high frequency vibrator I9 and the impulses emitted thereby are conducted to a binding post 20 in contact with theplate.

It will be observed that the neon tube units I2 are not held in direct contact with the plate 1, but need only be in energy transmitting adjacency to the same. The high frequency current entering the plate emits waves which energize all of the tubes simultaneously which thereupon become luminous.

Y The modification of the invention illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 employs the same'principle of operation but diiers in structural arrangement. The exposed face of the back plate 8 contains rows of alined perforations, providing sockets 2| to receive individual neon tubes 22.

lIt is to be understood that both the tube-units I2 and the tubes 22 may be lled with gases which display derent colors when the same become luminous. Since this practice is well-known in the art, no further description appears necessary.

The tubes 22 may be selectively disposed'in the sockets 2I to form letters, symbols, designs andl the like,v and it is readily apparent that the tubes may belremoved and rearranged at will.

The high frequency circuit illustrated in Figure 2` may be described as follows: commencing with thesource I1, through conductor 23 to vibrator I8, through conductor 24'to primary co1] 25 of transformer I8 and then through conductor ze to source n. when 'ine aforiignuoned eircuit is closed, secondary coil 21 of transformer Il is energized thereby and the high frequency inipulses from secondary coil 21 ow post, 2l and thence to con R electrical energy about the same, a lamp supductor 28 to binding ductive plate 1. y

After the sign is installed with the neon tube umts arranged to form any desired legend in the amanner well-known inv the art.

manner already described, the plate I is con-v nected in the circuit illustrated in Figure 2.

When the circuit is closed, the high 'frequency current, with which the plate 'I is charged, emits waves which energize the neon tube units I2, or lthe tubes 22. 'I'he tubeunits or tubes thereupon become luminous and, the legend is J"lllbl'ed in Changes and modifications may be availed of withinthe spirit and Vscope of the invention .as deiined in the hereunto appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A sign comprising a frame, `a conductive plate in the frame, an apertured di-electrlc plate in the frame, a neon tube unit having means for its suspension in an aperture of the di-electric plate in energy transmitting adjacency to the conductive plate, and a source of high frequency current in circuit transmitting connection with the conductive plate for illumination ofthe unit. 2. A sign comprising a frame, a conductive plate in the frame, an apertured di-electric plate in the frame, a plurality of neontube units having means for their suspension in apertures of said dl-electric plate in energy transmitting adjacency to the conductive plate, and a source of high frequency current in circuit transmitting connection with the conductive 'plate ,for the illumination of the units'slmultaneously, the

units being in disconnected relation to each other.

3. A sign comprising a frame, a conductiv vplate in the frame, a di-electric plate in'the frame`having'a plurality of sockets to receive neon tubes, neon tubes fitted in the sockets in energy transmitting adjacency to the conductive `plate. and a source of high frequency energy in circuit transmitting connection withv theA conductiveplate for the illumination of the units simultaneously, the units being in disconnected relation to each other.

4. A sign comprising a frame, a conductive plate in the frame, an apertured di-electric plate in the frame, a neon tube unit having means for Vits suspension inv an aperture 'of Ythe di-electric plate, inclusive of a transparent connection, holding the unit in energy trannnitting adjacency to the conductive plate, and a source of high frequency current in circuit transmitting connection with the conductive platefor illumi-L nation of the unit.

'5. An interchangeable .illuminated sign prlsing in combination, a conductive plate, substantially coextensivevwiththe sign. a source ofv high frequency current having onepole con- `nected with the plate forjproducing a iield of electrical energy about thejsame, a pu'fotated lamp supporting plate located adjacent one side porting plate of dielectric materialsupported adjacentkone side of the conductive plate, within the energy field, a plurality of neon-type lamps, and means, .for interchangeably attaching the lamps to the" dielectric plate.

'1. A sign comprising a conductive plate, altil apertured lamp supporting plate positioned ad jacent the conductive plate, a neon tube unit having means for its \suspension in an aperture of the supporting plate, and a source of high f requencycurrent having one terminal connected with the conductive plate for producing an energy iieldv which envelopes the lamps and seta up a glow therein.

8. A sign comprising a conductive plate. a source of high frequency current in single pole connectionwith saidv plate for producing a field of electric energy about the same, a plate of dielectric material located adjacent the conductive plate, within the energy field, and a neon-type lamp supported on the dielectric plate.

9. A sign comprising an electrically conductive Plate, a source of high frequency current in single pole connection with' said plate for producing a field o f electric energy about the same, a plate of dielectric material supported adjacent the conductive plate, within the energy ileld. a neon-type lamp, and means for holding the lamp on the dielectric plate.

10. A sign comprising a conductive plate, a plate of dielectric material positioned adjacent the conductive plate, the dielectric plate having a plurality of sockets arranged in rows, neon-.type lamps arranged inthe sockets to form a design. and a source of high frequency current having one terminalconnected with the. conductive plate, forl producing an energy field which en-v velopes the lamps and sets up a glow therein.

11. A sign comprising a. conductive plate. a .plate of dielectric material positioned adjacent the conductive plate, a plurality of lamp supports arranged in rows'on the dielectric plate, neon-typelamps held by the supports in a selectivedesign, and a source of high frequency current having one terminal connected with the conductive plate, for producing an energy field I which envelopes the lamps and sets up a glow therein.l

12. A sign comprising a conductive plate'. a

Yplate of dielectric material positioned adjacent' vthe conductive plate, a plurality of lamp supports arranged in rows on the dielectric plate, f

tric' mateiriaimiant the Aconductive piste within the energy field, and two neon-type lamps on the dielectric p1s,'mn of which is u display a difierentcolor when energiaed.

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